Page 153 of Earthbound

She fought to regain her composure; time was not an unlimited resource.

‘The first time I walked down this tunnel I was with Rayan. We were prisoners, bound with fae magic.’ The memory helped ground her and she spoke on with a clear voice. ‘We didn’t know about magesight then, so we were plunged into total darkness. I was so terrified.’ Echoes of the memory left her trembling. But then she thought of Rayan and smiled. ‘Rayan was behind me, and so I began to count his breaths. They steadied me without him even knowing.

‘And that’s what it’s like to love Rayan. He is the tiller to my boat; I cannot navigate these waters without him.’ Her voice dropped to a whisper as she begged her friend, ‘So allow me this illusion.’

Alder’s breath hitched in his throat and when he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion. ‘Well, we better get Rayan to Jay, then, so we can watch Ajax be healed.’

Lettle smiled with relief. ‘Exactly.’

They continued on, quicker this time, despite the effort. Soon the light from the fray glowed up ahead.

As they reached the threshold of the boundary into Mosima, Lettle heard a voice.

‘Is that them, can you see them?’ It was unmistakably Golan.

Alder inhaled sharply at the sound of Golan’s voice.

He loves him, like I love Rayan.

‘Are we not lucky? To have our loves?’ she said to him.

Alder didn’t seem to know what to say, but the silence was quickly broken with a single word.

‘Aiftarri. ‘The queen opened the boundary and they walked into Mosima for the final time.

Chapter Thirty-One

Lettle

‘Rayan,’ Furi gasped as the king came into her view. She stepped forward, trying to lend her strength to Lettle and Alder, but her legs trembled and she stumbled. Golan caught her.

‘Ajax’s wound was grave. How is it he still breathes?’ Golan asked, clutching onto Furi.

‘Jay’s going to heal them both, all will be well,’ Lettle said.

All will be well. All will be well. All will be well. It was a constant chant in her mind.

‘Lettle, I don’t think—’

‘Don’t, Golan,’ Alder said with a shake of the head.

Furi craned her neck past Lettle. ‘Where’s Yeeran?’

‘Malak got away,’ Lettle said by way of explanation.

‘She’ll be fine,’ Lettle added after seeing Furi’s worry deepen.

The queen dashed at the tears that had spilled onto her cheeks with frustration. ‘Let’s get Rayan back to the palace. I’ll call on some soldiers to help carry him.’

‘No!’ Lettle shouted, her fear of losing Rayan temporarily rising to the surface. ‘We can do it.’

‘I’ll help,’ Golan said.

They made their way quietly through Mosima. The city was much changed since Lettle had been here. Dozens of fields were burned, the smell of smoke thick in the air. Scorch marks of small fires could also be seen at the end of some of the streets.

They passed a section of the city that looked like it had been cordoned off. Empty vials littered the cobbled lanes. What she had first thought were cornerstones marking the roads, were grave markers. There had been too many dead for their graveyards.

‘What happened here?’ Alder asked.